Assigwob to the crofut



Patented 30, 1.923.

UNITE STATES LAZZAZM PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN GAVANAGH, OF SOUTH NOEWALK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CROFUT & KNAPP COIi'ZPANY, 0F NET/V YORK, N. Y.

HATBOX.

Application filed January 14, 1922.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

is it known that I, JOHN CAvANAsri, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at South Norwalk, Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in l-l'atboxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for boxing hats of difi'erent types, including caps, and has as its principal object the provision of a convenient container, suitableealso as a traveling casefin which hats may be kept arranged in good order and safe from damage when traveling, and such that when the container is opened all of the hats are not only exposed to view but are available as well for removal individually, each one without disturbing any of the others. The invention is directed likewise to the full utilization of the space of such a container; and to the provision of adequate means for supporting the various types of hats and caps, so that a man when traveling can convenientlytake with him and have readily available hats suitable for every occasion.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such others as appear from this specification, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings, a preferred embodi-.

ment of the invention is illustrated, like reference characters designating corresponding parts in all views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a box embodying the invention, with the covers open, showing in dot-and-dash lines an arrangementof hats within the box;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1.; and,

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken approximately on the line 3-8 of Fig. 2.

Referring to these drawings, the box comprises preferably a bottom 2, sides 3, 41, and ends 5, 6, as well as covers 7, 8. The ends 5, 6 are preferably peaked as at 9 (Fig. 3) so that the box when closed presents an appearance resembling a satchel. Approximately centrally and on the longitudinal center line there is provided a partition 10,

.which may extend upward to the same height as the peaked ends 5, 6, and has a length approximately the length of the Serial No. 529,117.

crown of a hat, and a thickness such that the distance to each of the sides 3, 4 is about the same as the usual depth of a hat. At each end of this partition 10 are provided transverse partitions 11, 12, which may also extend to the same height as the peaked ends 5, 6, and may be similarly peaked, affording some support to the covers, 7, 8 when closed. The partitions 11, 12 are also of approximately the same length as the crown of a hat, and provide space between them and thfi respective ends 5, 6 about the depth of a at.

Along the sides and ends'ot the box are provided interior Walls 13, 14, 15, 16, spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to allow of the insertion of the brim of a hat between such wall and the adjacent side or end. The depth of these walls is preferably about half the width of a hat, and each of the walls has an approximately central concave or cut away portion 17 to receive and support the crown of the hat, the shape of the cut-away portion corresponding substantially with that of the crown of a hat near the brim.

These walls may be provided with reinforcing strips or flanges 18 extending transversely from the wall along the edge of the concave or cut away portions, which serve to additionally support the crowns of the hats.

The covers 7, 8 may be provided with means such as elastic bands 19 for supporting caps, foldable sott hats, and the like. The covers are also preferably provided with means such asthe bands 20 attached at one end to a cover 7, 8. and at the other end to one of the ends 5. 6 of the box for supporting the covers in open position. In order that the box may be readily held closed and carried, one or both of the covers 7, 8 is provided with. a suitable handle 21, and straps 22 are provided upon one of the covers 8 adapted to engage suitable means such as the snaps 23 on the other cover 7 to hold the covers in closed position, one of the covers 8 having an overlapping flange 24 to keep out rain and the like.

The material of the box may obviously be leather, paper-board, wood, or any other material usual in similar constructions. The dimensions as inferentially indicated are preferably such that the box is slightly wider than the length of a hat brim, or twice the usual depth of a hat; the depth of the sides 3, 4 is a little more than the usual width of a brim; and the length is the usual length of a crown plus twice the depth of a hat.

In operation, hats are placed in the box as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, for instance, a derby with its brim against the side 3, and crown against the partition 10; a silk hat with its brim against the side 4, and top against the other side of the partition 10; different styles of hats with their brims against the ends 5, 6 and their tops against the partitions 11, 12 respectively; a cap under the bands 19 of the cover 7, and a folded felt hat under the bands 19 of the cover 8; so that with the covers open any one of these hats may be removed and replaced without disturbing'any of the others; and all are at all. times adequately supported, the interior walls and flanges 18 thereof assisting the previously named parts.

Having now described and set forth the invention, the following claims are made:

1. In a hat box having sides, ends,and bottom, a longitudinal approximately central vertical partition extending for a portion of the length of the box, and substantially vertical transverse partitions extend.- ing at least part of the width of the box disposed at each end of said longitudinal partition.

2. In a hat box having sides, ends, and bottom, a longitudinal approximately central vertical partition extending for a por tion of the length of the box, and substan tially vertical transverse partitions extending at least part of the width of the box disposed at each end of said longitudinal partition, said partitions adapted to form rests for the tops of hats, and meansassociated with the sides and ends of the box for receiving the brims.

3. In a hat box having sides, ends, and bottom, a longitudinal approximately central vertical partition extending for aportion of the length of the box, and subare disposed between said walls and the boxsides or ends.

4-. A hatbox or case comprising sides, ends, and bottom, the length being approximatelv twice the depth of a hat plus th length of a crown, and the width approxh inately the length of a brim; an approximately central longitudinal partition about the length of a crown: and transverse partit ons of similar len 'th disposed at each end of said longitudinal partition. I

5. In a hat box havine" sides, ends. and bottom,a longitudinal approximatel cen tral vertical partition extending for a portion of the length of the box, suhstantiall vertical transverse partitions extendinat least nart of the width of the box disposed at each end of said. lon itudinal partition, overlapping covers hinged at each side to close the box.v means to support said covers in open position, and elastic bands on the interior of said covers for supporting caps and the like. 7

In hat box, means associated with the s des and ends for receiving the bI'llfiSOf hats. the relation between the dimensions of the sides and ends being such that the hats occupy compactlv the entire interior space without interference with one another, and partitions to separate the crowns'and iur her support the hats.

In testimony wherem v I have signed my name to this specification.

JoHN CAVANAGH. 

